Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto 1 is one of the most iconic and widely performed works in classical piano repertoire. The song’s booming opening chords require virtuosic endurance and instantly command attention with their triumphant, sweeping range.
Pianist Sarah Sun Kanell—former student body president at Brigham Young University and the first Asian American woman crowned as Miss Utah—says the “absolutely insane” piece compelled her to find musical connections to the awe-inspiring hymn “Because I Have Been Given Much.”
Her mash-up of the two songs ultimately led to an ambitious first album, a collection of original piano arrangements that blend hymns with other unexpected music genres.
“Music has given me so much in my life; I owe so much of who I am to being a pianist,” Sarah says. “I have seen music get deprioritized in a world that offers so much instant gratification, and that felt like reason enough to do something about it.”
“Because I Have Been Given Much”
This week, Sarah released a music video of her debut single—the song that started the entire project.
In keeping with the lyrics of the hymn she references, the convert and former missionary aims to share the Lord’s goodness through her musical gifts. Of the album’s creation process, Sarah says:
“Many times I would go into the studio, not knowing what direction to take a piece, and then instantly something would just come to me. It’s been a testimony builder that even if I am not the most qualified, if I am trying to do something because I want to be obedient to the impressions that God’s given me, He will help me do it. And I think that’s true for all of God’s children in all different walks of life: As we really anchor ourselves to Him and do our best to follow His will, He always fills in the gaps.”
Sarah, who joined the Church at age 17, says her musical journey has been shaped by countless hours of practice. She has learned to play 11 instruments and has toured the world as a piano soloist and with the BYU Young Ambassadors.
As the daughter of Chinese immigrants, Sarah says that she has developed a firm belief that resilience and hard work can move mountains:
“Piano taught me that there’s no shortcut to success. It doesn’t matter how nice your instrument is or how expensive your training was; those things can never replace the fundamentals of hard work, humility, and focus. That lesson has carried over across every aspect of my life, which has been especially important for me because I have diagnosed ADHD. Having a discipline that requires me to show up every day regardless of how I feel gives me an anchor.”
Music for Every Listener
You don’t have to be a classical music aficionado to appreciate Sarah’s hymn arrangements.
For amateur pianists or musicians interested in learning the arrangements, Sarah intentionally tucked musical Easter eggs into the album, with surprise references that include a Broadway tune and a Chopin étude. “I want them to realize that there’s beauty in every genre of music, and all of it helps tell the same universal story of the human condition,” she explains.
And for the everyday listener, Sarah hopes that her arrangements can serve as a sacred soundtrack for daily life:
“I didn’t want to make music that steals the show. I wanted to make music for when you’re cleaning the house or driving to church or studying for an exam or trying to fall asleep. I wanted to make music that finds itself in the ordinary routine moments of life and becomes a quiet companion to your innermost thoughts.”
Discover breathtaking piano hymns
Sheet music for “Because I Have Been Given Much” is available for digital download through Deseret Book’s website.
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